Oil-pressure-control ignition switch for explosive engines



' Feb. 5, 1929.

5. G. ALEX OIL PRESSURE CONTROL IGNITION SWITCH FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES Filed Dec. 16,1927

Attorng Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAM o. ALEX, or crime, CALIFORNIA.

GILQRESSURE-CONTROL IGNITION SWITCH FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

Application filed December 16, 1327., Serial No. 240,594.

The present invention relates to ignition switches for explosive engines, being adapted particularly for use in connection with motor vehicles and has for an object to'connect the switch for actuation by the oil pressure gauge of the engine said switch being normally disposed in circuit opening position. and adapted to be moved so as to close the circuit upon the creation of a predetermined pressure upon the oil gauge.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will automatically open the ignition circuit and retain the same in such position until the oil pressure gauge predetermined pressure,

, tl ereby preventing the operation oi the ena: n u U liable performance, in

gine in the absence of a suitable amount of: oil for the same,

ther object is to provide means for op eratively connecting the switch with the oil gauge usually forming a part of the engine, without necessitating any material changes or alterati the construction thereof, and which embodies simple, compact and practical construction which is efficient and fiacture l ctr- "ourpo adapted for the is intended.

action and co ierence being had to acconip forming a part hereof, wherein: igure i is a vertical sectional view through the combined oil pressure gauge and switch housing showing the parts in cooperative position and islguie 2 is sectional view therethr'ough talren substantially alongia line 2-2 of Fig Referring now to the drawings in detail, Le invention comprises an oil brealzer gauge with the end of the pressure gaugetube 14.

The pressure gauge tube 14 is of a con- :rpensive to inanu reside in the ts comprising the invention,

; ousing indicated at 5 within the upper per-- ion'o'l which is arranged a transversely ills- Q osed dial shaft 6 having a wheel 7 and spur the spur gear 8 is arranged a gear struction generally used for devices of this, character having its end adjacent the link 1?) closed and arranged in a curved formation with its opposite end communicating with the coupler mounted within the housing and with which an oil ieed pipe 16 is connected for the purpose of supplying oil under pressure from the engine to the pressure gauge tube i l. The tube 14 is su'riiciently flexible to enable the end adjacent the link 13 to respond to the pressure of the oil in a manner tending to cause the tube to straighten and through such action will be apparent that the segment 9 will be operated so as to cause the rotation oithe wheel? and gear 8., The specific cbnstruction heretofore described forms no part oi my invention as the same is generally used in the construction of oil pressure gauges and is merely utilizedas a means for the op eration of my invention which consists of the construction, combination arrangement of the various details hereinafter explained radially extending arni i7 having a weight arm to the cute 1 a ed caole 20. i

i opposite sides 1*, lhin the is arranged a switch a i ed freely disposed'and connected with the lower end of the cable 20. The free enol'cif arm 2i is inserted in overlapping relation pivotally mount;

one end and having its opposite end i' between the arm of a til-shaped contact nieniwith the wire 23 of the ignition circuit oi the machine'ez tending from one side oil-the housing, the pivoted end of the arm. 21 also beingconnected with the-circuit by means of the wires indicated at'Qd extending from the opposite side of the housing.

The free end of the switch arm 21 is weighted as indicated at to counterbalance the weight 18 carried by the wheel i. sons to normally maintain the end'of the arm-in spaced relation with respect to the arm oflthe bracket 22., It will thus be apparent that the switch arm 21 controls an ign tion circuit through its connection with the wires 23 ail (1. 24 and accordingly the circuit will be maintained in open position While the engine is .not running and Will remain in such position until a suflicient pressure is exerted upon the oil pressure gauge to cause the operation of the gear segment 9 and the Wheel 7. -Thus the operation of the switch arin2l is at all times dependent upon a sufficient supply of lubricating oil in the engine to cause the actuation of the pressure gauge.

.lVhile the switch arm 21 will be normally maintained in a position to prevent the closing of the circuit until the engine is started, it will be understood that in oil pressure gauges of this character that the same are not dependent upon the explosion of the engine to register an oil pressure as the turning over of the motor by the starter is sufiicicnt tocreate a suitablepressure upon the gauge to cause the actuation thereoi and thus close the ignition circuit.

However should the oil in the engine be so low as to fail to create the necessary pressure upon the gauge the switch arm 21 will not be affected and accordinglythe engine will not start. Likewise during the running of the engineshould theoil become so low as to fail to maintain a predetermined pres-- sure upon the gauge, the gauge consequently will fail to maintain the free end of the switch arm in contacting position whereupon the circuit will be open thus causing the engine to stop, 1

It is obviousthat the invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I accordingly claim all such forms of the device to which I am entitled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In combination, an oil pressure gauge having a wheel mounted on its dial shaft with radially extendingarms extending upwardly at opposite sides thereof, a Weight carried on one of said arms, a cable attached to the other of said arms and an ignition switch connected. with said cable and operated thereby for movement into circuit closing position uponthe creation of a predetermined pressure upon the gauge.

2. In combination, an oil pressure gauge housing having an oil pressure gauge arranged therein, said gauge having a Wheel rotatably mounted on its dial shait, a pair of arms extending radially from the Wheel at upwardly inclined angles at opposite sides thereof, a weight carried by one of said arms,

a cable connected to the other of said arms,

an ignition switch arranged Within the housing, comprising a switch arm pivotally mounted at one end, a Ushaped contact bracket arranged adjacent the free end of the switch arm with the end of said switch arm extending between the arms of said bracket and connected tothe opposite end 01 said cable, said free end of the switch arm being Weighted to counter-balance the weight carried by the wheel whereby to maintain the switch arm in spaced relation with said contact bracket, said switch armbeing responsive to the actuation of the gauge upon the creation of a predetermined pressure thereupon.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SAM e. ALEX. 

